The hydrogenolysis reactions of Muswellbrook coal liquefaction residue
(CLR) and triaromatic azaarenes related to the basic coal liquid were
investigated by using red mud and sulfur catalysts. In the reaction o
f CLR and benzo[f]quinoline, the conversion of CLR to dichloromethane
soluble was depressed. The upgrading of CLR was slightly enhanced in t
he reaction of CLR and acridine. In the reaction of CLR and phenanthri
dine, the hydrogenolysis of CLR to dichloromethane soluble facilitated
; however, the upgrading to n-hexane soluble was depressed. In the rea
ction of CLR and benzo[h]quinoline, since benzo[h]quinoline dissolved
and dispersed CLR, upgrading of the mixture occurred effectively by th
e catalyst poisoned little for heterocycle moiety of benzo[h]quinoline
. Therefore, the upgrading of CLR was enhanced by the solvent effects
of benzo[h]quinoline. In the reaction of CLR and basic fraction separa
ted from Muswellbrook coal liquid, the synergistic effects to upgradin
g, such as the increase of n-hexane soluble and the decrease of dichlo
romethane insoluble, have been observed. Consequently, it was consider
ed that the upgrading of CLR was facilitated by the compounds having t
he skeleton structure similar to benzo[h]quinoline and phenanthridine
in the basic fraction. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser
ved.